Fry assessment system and method

Abstract

A fry assessment system (10) is disclosed and includes an image analyzer (12). The image analyzer (12) includes both a fry identification module (90) and a fry scoring module (100). A color image (70) is analyzed by the fry identification module (90) to identify all fries in the color image (70). Thereafter, the fry scoring module (100) determines a score for each identified fry in the color image (70). These determined scores may be used for any appropriate purpose, for instance for purposes of determining a selling price for associated potatoes, to monitor a condition of associated potatoes in a common storage area, or the like.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A method for assessing a potato segment, comprising the steps of:
 acquiring a color image of a potato segment using a camera; 
 transmitting said color image from said camera to memory that is computer-readable; 
 reading data from each potato segment pixel of said color image in said memory, wherein each said potato segment pixel is designated as being part of said potato segment; and 
 executing a potato segment scoring color analysis using a computer operatively interconnected with said memory and comprising:
 acquiring from said data at least a first color value and a second color value for each said potato segment pixel; 
 assessing each said potato segment pixel in relation to at least one of a plurality of color value sets, wherein each color value set of said plurality of color value sets has at least a first color value requirement, a second color value requirement, and a score, wherein said first color value requirement, said second color value requirement, and said score of each said color value set is different from said first color value requirement, said second color value requirement, and said score for every other said color value set of said plurality of color value sets; 
 executing a first assigning step comprising assigning each said potato segment pixel to said score for one of said plurality of color value sets and based upon its corresponding said first color value and said second color value complying with said first color value requirement and said second color value requirement of said one of said plurality of color value sets; and 
 generating an assigned score for said potato segment, wherein said assigned score is said score that has been associated with the largest number of said potato segment pixels by said first assigning step. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said potato segment is a fried French fry. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first assigning step of said potato segment scoring color analysis fails to utilize a third color value of said potato segment pixel. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of color value sets includes only five different color value sets. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 :
 wherein said plurality of color value sets comprises a fourth color value set, a third color value set, a second color value set, a first color value set, and a base color value set; 
 wherein a given said potato segment pixel is assigned by said first assigning step to said score of said fourth color value set if a fourth determining step is a pass and which requires both said first color value and said second color value of said given said potato segment pixel to comply with said first color value requirement and said second color value requirement, respectively, of said fourth color value set; 
 wherein a given said potato segment pixel is assigned by said first assigning step to said score of said third color value set if said fourth determining step is a fail and if a third determining step is a pass and which requires both said first color value and said second color value of said given said potato segment pixel to comply with said first color value requirement and said second color value requirement, respectively, of said third color value set; 
 wherein a given said potato segment pixel is assigned by said first assigning step to said score of said second color value set if said fourth determining step is a fail, if said third determining step is a fail, and if a second determining step is a pass and which requires both said first color value and said second color value of said given said potato segment pixel to comply with said first color value requirement and said second color value requirement, respectively, of said second color value set; 
 wherein a given said potato segment pixel is assigned by said first assigning step to said score of said first color value set if said fourth determining step is a fail, if said third determining step is a fail, if said second determining step is a fail, and if a first determining step is a pass and which requires both said first color value and said second color value of said given said potato segment pixel to comply with said first color value requirement and said second color value requirement, respectively, of said first color value set; and 
 wherein a given said potato segment pixel is assigned by said first assigning step to said score of said base color value set if said fourth determining step fails, if said third determining step fails, if said second determining step fails, and if said first determining step fails. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein each said color value set further has a color, wherein said color of a given said color value set is different from said color for every other said color value set of said plurality of color value sets, said method further comprising the step of:
 displaying an electronic image of said potato segment where each said potato segment pixel is presented in said color of said one of said plurality of color value sets. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein:
 wherein a given said potato segment pixel is displayed in said color of said fourth color value set if said fourth determining step passes; 
 wherein a given said potato segment pixel is displayed in said color of said third color value set if said fourth determining step fails and if said third determining step passes; 
 wherein a given said potato segment pixel is displayed in said color of said second color value set if said fourth determining step fails, if said third determining step fails, and if said second determining step passes; 
 wherein a given said potato segment pixel is displayed in said color of said first color value set if said fourth determining step fails, if said third determining step fails, if said second determining step fails, and if said first determining step passes; and 
 wherein a given said potato segment pixel is displayed in said color of said base color value set if said fourth determining step fails, if said third determining step fails, if said second determining step fails, and if said first determining step fails. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 5 , wherein said score of said fourth color value set is a 4, wherein said score of said third color value set is a 3, wherein said score of said second color value set is a 2, wherein said score of said first color value set is a 1, and wherein said score of said base color value set is a 0. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 :
 wherein said plurality of color value sets comprises a fourth color value set, a third color value set, a second color value set, a first color value set, and a base color value set; 
 wherein a given said potato segment pixel is assigned by said first assigning step to said score of said fourth color value set if said first color value of said given said potato segment pixel is within a first color value range of said first color value requirement for said fourth color value set and if said second color value of said given said potato segment pixel is within a second color value range of said second color value requirement for said fourth color value set; 
 wherein a given said potato segment pixel is assigned by said first assigning step to said score of said third color value set if said first color value of said given said potato segment pixel is within a first color value range of said first color value requirement for said third color value set and if said second color value of said given said potato segment pixel is within a second color value range of said second color value requirement for said third color value set; 
 wherein a given said potato segment pixel is assigned by said first assigning step to said score of said second color value set if said first color value of said given said potato segment pixel is within a first color value range of said first color value requirement for said second color value set and if said second color value of said given said potato segment pixel is within a second color value range of said second color value requirement for said second color value set; 
 wherein a given said potato segment pixel is assigned by said first assigning step to said score of said first color value set if said first color value of said given said potato segment pixel is within a first color value range of said first color value requirement for said first color value set and if said second color value of said given said potato segment pixel is within a second color value range of said second color value requirement for said first color value set; 
 wherein a given said potato segment pixel is assigned by said first assigning step to said score of said base color value set if said potato segment pixel is not assigned to said score for any of said first color value set, said second color value set, said third color value set, and said fourth color value set. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein each said color value set further has a color, wherein said color of a given said color value set is different from said color for every other said color value set of said plurality of color value sets, said method further comprising the step of:
 displaying an electronic image of said potato segment where each said potato segment pixel is presented in said color of said one of said plurality of color value sets. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying said assigned score for said potato segment. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 disposing said potato segment on a base, wherein said color image comprises said potato segment and said base; and 
 distinguishing said potato segment from said base, wherein said distinguishing step is executed by said computer and comprises identifying each said potato segment pixel for purposes of said potato segment scoring color analysis. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein said distinguishing step comprises said computer executing a potato segment identification color analysis based on said color image, and wherein said potato segment identification color analysis comprises:
 acquiring a first plurality of color values for each of a plurality of first pixels; and 
 assessing said first plurality of color values for each said first pixel against a plurality of color value relationships; and 
 identifying each said first pixel whose plurality of color values satisfy each of said plurality of color value relationships; 
 said method further comprising:
 using said first pixels from said identifying step of said potato segment identification color analysis to identify each said potato segment in said color image, wherein each said potato segment in said color image is collectively defined by a different plurality of said potato segment pixels in said color image. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising resizing said color image, wherein said potato segment identification color analysis is executed on said color image after said resizing step. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13 , wherein said first plurality of different color values for said potato segment identification color analysis comprises a first color value, a second color value, and a third color value. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein said plurality of color value relationships of said potato segment identification color analysis comprises a first color value relationship and a second color value relationship, wherein said assessing step of said potato segment identification color analysis in relation to a given said first pixel further comprises assessing said first color value of said given said first pixel and said second color value of said given said first pixel against each of said first color value relationship and said second color value relationship. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein said plurality of color value relationships of said potato segment identification color analysis further comprises a third color value relationship, and wherein said assessing step of said potato segment identification color analysis further comprises assessing said first color value of said given said first pixel, said second color value of said given said first pixel, and said third color value of said given said first pixel against said third color value relationship. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15 , wherein said plurality of color value relationships of said potato segment identification color analysis comprises a first color value relationship and a second color value relationship, wherein said first color value of said given said first pixel is a red color value and said second color value of said given said first pixel is a green color value, wherein said assessing step of said potato segment identification color analysis in relation to a given said first pixel further comprises assessing said red color value of said given said first pixel and said green color value of said given said first pixel against each of said first color value relationship and said second color value relationship. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 1 , wherein a sample comprises a plurality of potato segments, wherein said method is executed in relation to said sample such that said acquiring a color image step is executed for said sample, such that said transmitting step is executed for said color image of said sample, such that said reading step is executed for said color image of said sample, and such that said potato segment scoring color analysis is executed for each said potato segment of said color image. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 1 , wherein a sample comprises a plurality of potato segments, wherein each said sample is associated with a different time, and wherein said method is separately executed in relation to each said sample such that said acquiring a color image step is executed for each said sample, such that said transmitting step is executed for each said color image, such that said reading step is executed for each said color image, and such that said potato segment scoring color analysis is executed for each said potato segment of each said color image. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20 , further comprising storing information in a separate record in said memory for each said sample. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 20 , wherein each said sample is from a common storage receptacle comprising a plurality of potatoes. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 22 , further comprising using said assigned score for said plurality of potato segments of at least two said samples to determine when to sell said plurality of potatoes in said common storage receptacle. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 22 , further comprising using said assigned score for said plurality of potato segments of at least two said samples to adjust at least one condition in said common storage receptacle. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 22 , further comprising monitoring a condition of said plurality of potatoes in said common storage receptacle, wherein said monitoring step comprises using said assigned score for said plurality of potato segments of at least two said samples.